Around 1990, Sai Baba
recommended three books to various interview groups. The foremost of these was "I Am
That" by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. This book is a verbatim record of very incisive
questionings by truth seekers and remarkable answers by the fully realised Nisargadatta.
It is a tour de force in advaitism, being in no way a mere exercise in knowledge of
doctrine, but vibrant and amazingly original explanations which directly answer the
essence of each question put. In short, not as vague and generalised as the constantly
repeated standard teachings of Sai Baba or the stock answers he delivers to questions put
to him, if and when he happens actually to answer rather than avoid the issue or change
the subject. It is therefore very interesting to note the following question and answer:

Questioner:
What is realization? Who is a realised man? By what is gnani recognised?

Maharaj:
There are no distinctive marks of gnana. Only ignorance can be recognised,
not gnana. Nor does a gnani claim to be something special. All those who proclaim
their own greatness and uniqueness are not gnanis. They are mistaking some
unusual development for realisation. The gnani shows no tendency to proclaim
himself to be a gnani. He considers himself to be perfectly normal, true to
his real nature. Proclaiming oneself to be an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent
deity is a clear sign of ignorance." ('I Am That', by Sri Nisargadatta.
Ch. 43, p. 193)

This book was recommended by one
who claims just these things. One wonders, did he actually read the book. No Sai
Baba is SO exceptional that he doesn't need to learn anything! I don't think.